/library/oar/handle/123456789/78615 2025-11-10T22:04:03Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86701 Title: Socially engaged art and global challenges [editorial] Abstract: The artist Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) developed his concept of 'social sculpture' in the 1970s to describe the politically transformative potential of creative work in everyday actions (Harlan, 2004). While other artistic movements in the twentieth century like Dada and Fluxus also worked to blur traditional distinctions between art and life, Beuys focused on more explicitly political questions about the moulding of democracy and societies through cooperative, creative action (Gyorody, 2014). The influence of Beuys' belief in human creativity and his expanded definition of art has been felt in various fields: from the field of art education and creative pedagogies (Buschkühle, 2020) to the Occupy movement in North America (Biddle, 2013) and social practice in the work of artists like Suzanne Lacy and Rick Lowe in the United States (Jordan, 2013). In particular, the importance of socially engaged artistic practices in pushing the remit of art education in directions that encourage interventions in spaces characterised by social injustices has been noted by many scholars in the fields of contemporary art practice and art education (Naidus, 2009; Helguera, 2011; Schlemmer et al., 2017). [excerpt] 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86700 Title: Not safe for work (NSFW) : persons living with HIV : a study of a socially engaged theatre work-in-progress Authors: Gatt, Isabelle; Raykov, Milosh; Vella, Raphael Abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most severe health challenges that affect the lives of an increasingly large number of people in the World. Lack of information, stigma, and marginalization of people with HIV are serious challenges that prevent early diagnostic of HIV infections and timely interventions that can improve the conditions of the affected people and the transmission of HIV. The existing body of research provides some evidence about the potential of socially engaged arts to expand knowledge, influence attitudes and empower participants to regularly take tests and visitors to understand and accept people affected by HIV. However, studies in this domain are scant and usually conducted in the areas with the highest prevalence of the HIV epidemic. Due to the limited evidence and the need to examine the potential of socially engaged arts in empowering people with HIV, this study examined and presented the initial results from an experimental theatre production focusing on participatory design and co-creation by applying a mixed method research design. A set of structured interviews with the participants, and discussions during the experimental reading session were used to study participants’ experiences, complementing pre-, and post-reading survey results of this small sample of participants. Results demonstrate very high interest in and expectations from socially engaged arts and a particular value of participatory design and co-creation during the development of the evaluated artistic creation. 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86699 Title: Intersectional dialogues around cultural policy in Malta Authors: Vella, Raphael; Xuereb, Karsten Abstract: This article seeks to understand how social engagement and policy change in the cultural sector in Malta can cater for the needs of various individuals and communities, particularly minorities, based on the island. As it contextualises local cultural policy in the broad theoretical field of intersectionality, the article articulates a general backdrop linking geographical and political dimensions to the cultural scene and specific minorities in Malta. It then presents an outline of the recent National Cultural Policy issued by the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government in 2021, giving an overview of some of the policy’s references to social inclusion and cultural access in the work conducted by various public stakeholders in the cultural and educational sectors. Finally, it describes and analyses data collected from two meetings held with various stakeholders representing different sectors in the country in order to elicit some conclusions about the significance of socially engaged arts, training and other perceived needs in the sector. 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/86698 Title: Social change through cultural enterprise in Malta : a critical assessment of a nascent field Authors: Xuereb, Karsten Abstract: This article adopts a cultural policy perspective to address diversity and sustainable development in the context of cultural enterprise in Malta, where projects and scholarly research supported by European funded programmes in the promotion and protection of diversity in local and regional environments are at an early stage. This article first argues that engaging in a critical assessment of the field is timely because of the growing importance that matters of diversity and sustainability are having in the light of the cultural-driven and -led models employed that are having significant impact on human and natural ecosystems; this is particularly due to a booming population that is becoming more diversified, a greater economic activity especially related to tourism and travel and the consistent rise in the demand of creative products and services. In this light, references to the research conducted by the project Acting on the Margins: Arts as Social Sculpture (AMASS) will support this argument. It then argues that cultural operators and educators who are drawn to this area of interest and whose work consists of evaluating the scene and proposing novel ways of collaboration and research contribute towards building sustainable models of operation. The methodology applied is based on a pertinent literature review and observations made directly in the field of practice. 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z